This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have a bump feel or clunk noise at a stop or on launch. Dealer should communicate to the customer this condition is a normal operating characteristic of their vehicle. The bump clunk issue may be due to fuel movement in the fuel tank when not completely full. The condition is eliminated after completely filling the fuel tank.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2009 GMC Sierra fuel system problems
moderate Owners of the 2009 GMC Sierra have filed 3 NHTSA complaints about the fuel system at roughly $1,200 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See fuel system across all vehicles →
Complaints
3
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,200
| Model year | fuel system complaints |
|---|---|
| 2005 Sierra | 8 |
| 2006 Sierra | 10 |
| 2007 Sierra | 4 |
| 2008 Sierra | 5 |
| 2009 Sierra (this page) | 3 |
| 2011 Sierra | 3 |
When does it fail?
Of the 3 fuel system complaints filed for the 2009 GMC Sierra, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 6 model years of GMC Sierra we track for fuel system problems, this one has the fewest owner complaints on file (3).
No new NHTSA fuel system complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 15 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering fuel system on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This informational bulletin provides dealership personnel with information on flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) and the usage of E85 fuel in GM vehicles.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin provides information for maintenance cleaning of the fuel injectors.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a an extended crank on cold start, brief rough running on cold start, black exhaust color, and/or Service Engine Soon Malfunction Indicator Lamp on. Technician may find a Diagnostic Trouble Code P0172 and or P0175. Technician will need to check the Fuel Alcohol Content parameter found in the Fuel Trim Data List of the scan tool and the measured ethanol content of a fuel sample using the J44175 tester. If the difference is 17% or greater, reprogram the Engine Control Module with the latest calibrations from TIS2web.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that after refueling the fuel gauge will show empty. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Code P2636 has set. Technician should be advised that the vehicle is being refueled with the engine running or ignition on.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Throttle body unit on 2009 GMC sierra truck burned out & needed replacing at 38 thousand miles. GMC paid for my repair after many conversations with them, even tho they stated it was out of warranty. I put the money out to have it fixed, they are reimbursing me via check to my home address. My co-worker had the same thing happen to him about 2 weeks ago, his throttle body unit burned out on his…
Had fuel system trouble with your 2009 GMC Sierra?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the fuel system problem on the 2009 GMC Sierra?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 3 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,200 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the fuel system typically fail?
Based on the 3 complaints filed, fuel system issues most often appear around 43,793 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,200 for fuel system repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to fuel system?
No active recalls currently cover fuel system issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/GMC/Sierra.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.